RETURN TO MANAOS. 275 



dinhas have a quite peculiar character. They are little 

 graceful, lyrical snatches of song, with a rather melan- 

 choly cadence ; even those of which the words are gay 

 not being quite free from this undertone of sadness. 

 This put us all into a somewhat dreamy mood, and we 

 approached the end of our journey rather silently. But 

 as we drew near the landing, we heard the sound of a 

 band of brass instruments, effectually drowning our feeble 

 efforts, and saw a crowded canoe coming towards us. 

 They were the boys from the Indian school which we 

 visited on our previous stay at Manaos. The canoe 

 looked very pretty as it came towards us in the moon- 

 light ; it seemed full to overflowing, the children all 

 dressed in white uniforms and standing up. This little 

 band comes always on Sunday evenings and festa-days 

 to play before the President's house. They were just 

 going home, it being nearly ten o'clock ; but the President 

 called to them to turn back, and they accompanied us to 

 the beach, playing all the while. Thus our pleasant three 

 days' picnic ended with music and moonlight. 



